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Posted on 05/28/2026 11:50:55 AM PDT by ProgressingAmerica
For many millennials, the economy can feel like a game of musical chairs where previous generations already grabbed the seats, refinanced them at 3% interest and now insist there are still plenty left if younger people would just "budget better." Somewhere along the way, the American dream started feeling less like a finish line and more like one of those carnival games rigged just enough to keep people throwing money at it.
That frustration spilled into Reddit's r/economy subreddit when one millennial who grew up in the 1990s posted a blunt message about the growing disconnect between younger Americans and boomers over money, housing and financial expectations.
"I'm a millennial who grew up in the 90s and what boomers don't understand about us is that we're working three times as hard for a third of what they had at our age," the Redditor wrote. "And the milestones they want us to hit weren't postponed by laziness, they were priced out of reach by the economy they voted for."
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
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Bricks without straw...
The Generation of the coming Apocalypse and the return of the Hybrids. ☢️✖️
“Means a current 2026 dollar is approximately the valve of a 1970s penny.”
https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
You are not very smart. A dollar in 1970 would now be $8.58. Not $100.You’re only off by a dozen times...and value, not valve. We didn’t have spell checkers doing our work for us back them, either!
I was kinda trying to be nice...
My FIL, who was born in the 20s, had in his will, "Being of sound mind, I spent it all!" He hadn't of course, but he did leave every kid and grandkid the sum of one dollar with the rest of it going to his wife.
All except one of us agreed that was fair since she had been the one who had to live with him for 30 years. When she died she split it between those of us who had not thrown a fit.
Millenials are expected to be the wealthiest of all time inheriting over $50 trillion from their evil parents.
Maybe. Lot of that will be going to medical care.
“Just out of college, 1980, I bought DRIED BEANS to soak because canned beans were too expensive.”
Reminds me of my 1975 college roommate who bicycled from Washington State to the University of Florida.
Lived on dried beans. We thought he was a vegetarian till one day he came home smelling with a bag of beef parts.
He had landed a job at at butcher shop and got some freebies.
We shouldn't try to generalize Gen-Z or Boomer experiences. A Gen-Zer or Boomer raised with a silver spoon in their mouth will face different challenges compared to those raised in poverty or middle-class.
What many Boomers achieved/acquired took many decades. I'm a Boomer. I had nothing in terms of material possessions or money when I married 40+ years ago. I can honestly say that whatever my wife and I have was earned by the grace of God - over many years.
I believe challenges that will face any generation of poor and middle-class people will include: deferred gratification and living within your means. I would add that faith in Christ and His word was paramount in my achieving any contentment and peace spiritually or materially.
Proverbs 19:17 states, "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done." Proverbs 22:9 declares, "The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor." Jesus said in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap."
My advice to anyone including GenZ is to ask Christ into your life, read and meditate on His word and allow the Holy Spirit and His word to lead you in all decisions including financial/material.
Frankly, they have a lot to gripe about.
That includes the Ponzi schemes which include both real estate and social security.
But it’s too generalizing to say that it’s the ‘boomers’:
It was the boomer progressives among them and the boomer liberal democrats who followed them to push this over the cliff.
“I’m an old guy, but I’d agree it is definitely harder for young people to buy a car, a house and get a family started. To me it seems like this is a given and I don’t see how anyone can dispute that fact...”
I’m an old guy too, but not old enough to partake in the socialism running rampant these days.
I mildly disagree with you, with the caveat that you might have to move for opportunity, opportunity doesn’t always come looking for you - and I’m amazed at the number of kids I’ve run across that expect it to.
Your house might be an 1100sqft older home, your car might be a 15 year old, but maintained used car.
That’s very likely not the house or car the average young person is looking for, hence the complaining. It might be harder in some respects. If you have big student loan debt. If you don’t move and you live in a high-cost area, and you prioritize the wrong things you are going to have a harder time.
Dear crybaby Millennials, I think I see the problem here. Look in the mirror, you’ll see it too!
I had a paper route at 12, union job at 16, full time/overtime at 17, retired at 66. My two sons have both retired in their 50’s, due to us all working very smartly, and hard.
It’s out there, just do it.
“but he did leave every kid and grandkid the sum of one dollar with the rest of it going to his wife”
My brother and I split my father’s gun collection. My sister got the promise that my mother’s jewelry would go to her.
Inflation eventually got me to $100,000+ but a declining lifestyle due to inflation. Now, the circle turns as each year the cost of living increase exceeds what income is subject to COLA increases.
Fortunately, both my kids have reached retirement with adequate income. Their inheritances will keep them afloat BUT, my Grandkids, for the most part, will face far darker times at the rate we are going!
As a boomer I agree, the Millenials are working three times as hard. The problem is they are working 2/3 less. As a Boomer 60+ hour works in a factory we’re not uncommon. Later in management it was more at times. I did as a as told or asked, showed up on time even if that meant leaving my toddler at home with a runny nose. I missed funerals, vacations, school events, and rarely put my preferences above my employer. Why? Money. I needed it. Four kids and a stay at home wife. No thought about changing the world and being heard.
I have more because I started with less. First house 1000sqft that I had to rehab. One new car in 40 years. Packed my lunch even as an executive and kids packed lunches. Coffe is always less than $1 if I buy it out.
So yeah, it’s hey are right they work harder and they have less. But they do t what Boomers had then. Shiite box cars, small starter homes, eat at home, and work long hours. They want what we have now and the want almost unlimited personal time to enjoy it.
Not all of them. Many understand work and thrift and family and they have done even better. Like my kids. Put me to shame.
Reddit: “This is why we want Socialism”
I am getting the mantle clock and oil lamp.
My brother is getting the sideboard and credenza.
All of this when they both have passed on.
Making out like bandits we are. :)
Boomers watched as their country was invaded by ppl from who knows where & their wages started to stagnate because of that, so the wife had to go to work too. We were also forced to pay for the War on Poverty that was a disaster & then NAFTA came along to depress wages even further. Meanwhile, it looked like our parents had it made, sipping pubs coladas by the pool while we slaved our asses off.
It’s called perspective & Gen Z appears clueless.
+1
You were making 2x the average.
Instead of blaming an entire generation for their troubles, they should direct their anger toward the ppl who sold them down the river: politicians & government officials, many of them progressives.
These people are nuts. Every era has it’s challenges. In every era some folks work hard, some folks coast.
I worked like a dog in medical school then on call for residency. 1st year residency my schedules was every 3rd night on call. On the MThSAT week M24h, T5a-7p, W5a-7p, Th24h, F5a-7p, Sat 24h, Sun til 12p.
TFSun week was even longer M14h, T24h,W14h, Th14h, F24h, Sat til 12pm Sun 24h (121 hrs that week)
The next 3 years was every 5th night - days were 2 hours shorter (surgery vs radiology)
The following 6 years, getting vested in a practice, I worked long days and in addition an average of every 3rd week of night call, in three areas, which didn’t usually fall on the same weeks.
Medicine is very different now, much less grueling. I am sick of hearing about boomers leaching off the following generation. I think the folks complaining are from the spoiled generations. Where I think the boomer generation had a bad effect was the “hippie” movement. Those that didn’t frow out of it turned into the liberals of today, the scourge of Civilization.
Except that was not quite true either. Like everything else was true for some but mostly not true for the majority.
People look at the upper middle class and think, that was what it was like. Not so much.
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